Same-sex couple banned from hiring boat due to company's 'no male groups' policy
A same-sex couple were turned away from a boat rental because the company has a strict policy against all-male groups.
Steve Edwards and his partner of 20 years Jonah Lee went to rent a boat from Berry Boats in Cardiff Bay on Monday, May 29.
However Steve said when he tried to book, he was informed of the policy - and despite explaining that he and his partner were a couple, was told they couldn't hire a boat. "We were just down the Bay because it was a lovely bank holiday," he told WalesOnline.
"We noticed a boat stall so we went along to try and make a booking. There were three members of staff who signposted us that we had to book online, and when we started to do that, one of the gentlemen advised us it would be classed as a male group.
"I understand their policy but we pointed out that it was discrimination on grounds of our gender and sexuality.
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"In fairness to the staff they were polite but it felt to me that they didn't have any leeway to use judgement. They were not rude and they were not abusive, they just held their ground on that policy."
The policy, which Steve described as "short-sighted," is available on the Berry Boats website and reads: "We received a high volume of complaints from other users of the waters of Cardiff Bay citing use of foul and vulgar language against them along with other antisocial behaviour, our boats were also significantly damaged and misused upon return with safety equipment thrown in the water and there were reports of causing distress to wildlife.
Steve said the policy was "too blunt a tool," adding it would be "better policed by behaviour" - for instance, turning away drunk or abusive customers rather than making a blanket judgement on gender (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)"Behaviour such as this is unacceptable to us and other businesses in Cardiff Bay. It is not feasible for us to conduct background checks on our customers and making judgements on customers is not a practice our staff should have to undertake.
"We found it necessary to take steps to stop same sexed groups from using our boats but have since found that all-female groups are more considerate and well behaved when compared to all-male groups. We want as many people to use our boats as possible, it is a great experience to have the chance to drive your own boat, especially for the first time, but it simply is not viable for us to take such risks and after an incident has happened makes it too late."
Some Google reviewers have been left unimpressed with the policy, with one a year ago stating: "Discrimination at its finest. Booked and payed for two boats only to be told they run a "no male only" boat policy. The staff member told us that if we found a woman / kid to go on each boat with us then they would of allowed us to go out on the boats. What a joke."
A response from Berry Boats reads: "Hi, sorry to disappoint but we are tired of letting male groups trash our boats. This doesn't happen when accompanied with a wife/gf/sister/daughter."
Another reviewer wrote: "Friend down from Australia and thought it would be a nice activity for the three of us. Three guys in their early 30’s on a Tuesday morning. Hardly going to cause a riot. Website states you can access the boat if you bring a female companion mind. Won't bother in future. Avoid."
Steve said the policy was "too blunt a tool," adding it would be "better policed by behaviour" - for instance, turning away drunk or abusive customers rather than making a blanket judgement on gender. He said the effect of the policy in denying male gay couples was "not something I'd want to see commonplace."
With Pride Cymru coming up next month, Steve said we "can't just celebrate" but also have to challenge discrimination. He added: "We find Cardiff warm, welcoming and fairly metropolitan... we try to live our lives fairly peaceably but we're conscious that we see rights being challenged around the world so we're more attuned to any challenges we face."
A spokesperson for Cardiff Cruises, the company that operates Berry Boats, said: "We are of course sympathetic to Mr Edwards situation and we have engaged with him and apologised for any inconvenience that he may have suffered.
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"We have explained to him that we have experienced a significant number of complaints and incidents on the water involving all male crews involving disturbances to wildlife, disruption to other waterway users, damage and loss to equipment and delays to other customers.
"We have been advised by the Harbour Authority that our licence to operate is at risk if appropriate controls are not put in place. We cannot jeopardise the terms of our operator's licence which in turn affects other customers and staff jobs.
"Previously a 'no male only' policy has been deemed the only solution capable of minimising the problems we have encountered.
"However, we can see that a blanket ban could be viewed as unfair and we are, in the light of this incident, reviewing our policy in relation to people who are in a similar situation to Mr Edwards.
"We are more than willing to engage in any forum set up by the Council, Harbour Authority or the Senedd to review how similar conflicts can be overcome. What we cannot do is expose our operators license."
Steve said he and Jonah went on to rent bikes and "had a great day anyway."
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